DOMESTIC DISCORD

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 747, 21 August 1929, Page 1

DOMESTIC DISCORD

STORIES FROM DIVORCE COURT SIXTY-SEVEN PETITIONS HEARD MAN”Y and varied stories of domestic unhappiness between husbands and wives were told in. the Supreme Court today, when undefended petitions in divorce were heard. Sixty-seven petitions of the 80 listed were dealt with by Mr. Justice Ilerdman in the main court and by Mr. Justice Ostler in the upstairs court. Grounds of the majority of petitions were failure to comply with orders for restitution of conjugal rights, with a ff few desertion and adultery causes.

After seven years o£ married life. Vary Eva Chalmers obtained a separation in June, 1925. from her husband, Douglas Henry Alexander Chalmers, grounds of persistent cruelty, but she subsequently returned and lived iith him for three moths. This evidence was given by Mrs. Chalmers (Mr. Hubble) in support of her petition for dissolution of her marriage on the grounds of mutual separation. Petitioner was married at Featherjton on April 3, 1918, there being three children of the union. After hearing corroborative testimony, a decree nissi was granted, to he made absolute in three months. Custody of the children was granted p petitioner.

‘•BUSINESS PREFERRED” “My wife declared that she preferred business life to domestic life,” explained William Thomas Jupp (Mr. Hubble) in explanation of the fact that his wife, Margaret E. Jupp, had Jett him in May this year after four years' married life. He petitioned for restitution of conjugal rights. All elorts to induce his wife to return had failed, he said. An order was made for the wife’s ieturu within 14 days.. CULMINATION OF THREATS Coming home from the hospital, Alfred John Anderson found that his wife had carried out her threats to lears him, made during the previous tire years, and had disappeared. Anderson (Mr Grant) gave this evidence in support of his petition for the severing of his matrimonial bonds with Ethel Amy Anderson on grounds of failure to comply with an order for restitution of conjugal rights. He nided that all efforts to trace his wife by letter had failed. A decree nisi was granted, to be tnade absolute in three months. A SAILOR’S BRIDE On the day of H.M.S. Dunedin's defarturc for England fdr refitting on March 25, 1917, Robert Yule Baillie, a member of the cruiser’s crew, married a young woman at the Auckland registry office. This story was related by Mr. Fin'ay, who represented Baillie’s petition for dissolution of his matrimonial alliance with Ethel E. C. Baillie. Counsel said that after the marriage the parties had never lived together, Baillie sailing with the Dunedin for Plymouth the same day as he was married. He was engaged on temporary naval service at Home, and subsequently re joined his ship in New Zealand with a detachment of the crew from Home The wife had declined to live with him since he had returned to New Zealand. Ba'llie declared he had never seen Bis wife since the marriage. A decree nisi was granted, to be faade absolute in three months. UNLUCKY DATE How do you remember that it was January 13, 1926, that your husband bit you?” asked Mr. Justice Herd |"an of Annie Matilda Powdrilt, who asked for her marriage with Thomas Powdrill to be dissolved on grounds pf desertion. “The date is unlucky,” replied petitioner, smiling. Petitioner said she was married in March, 1919. and lived with her hus>and on a farm for several years. Her husband then became a traveller and ™ her to make her own living in Opotiki. At the end of 1925 she rejoined her Husband in Auckland, living with him Herne Bay for a time, but he again kft her. A decree nisi was granted, to be “oved absolute in three months. SEPARATED SINCE 1920 J? n the existence of a separation ”“ er Since 1920, Rose Mills was “■Anted a decree nisi against Charles William Mills. Custody of the “Horen was granted to the petitioner. decree is moved absolute in three Months. “°THER.|N-LAW disapproved Afy mother-in-law did not think the with me was • good enough. *“ ou ßht her son should have mar- ■ 0 money, whereas I was just workin the city.” Inm 8 reason for her husband leaving t„u e Was Riven by Ethel Moore (Mr. rest- who sou ßht an order for yuhitution of conjugal rights against Leonard Wallis Moore. Petitioner said that when she reelf t° Auckland after attending , r “Ink mother at the end of 1928, found her husband had disa'p--1 iim telephoned him and urged tu to come home, but he declared was “finished.” . obe said that her mother-in-law ? uever approved of the match, s’ or< * er was made for the husreturn within 14 days. whole nature changed When Stanley Gilberd returned from War 1917 his whole nature was said Nora Annie Gilberd (Mr. atthews), who petitioned for divorce °m her husband. She was married iiv ? ctober 29 - 1912, at Ellerslie, and e d at Auckland and various small rMi eTn towns. There were two ha* !? ren * he marriage. Her husand went to the war in 1916, and was • Headed, returning the following

yeai;. Prior to his war service they had been very happy together, but on his return respondent was quite iriesponsible and drifted from one job to another, and it was eventually necessary to sell the furniture to keej> the home going. He went to Auckland for a few weeks, and on his return petitioner accused him of something she had been told. They agreed to separate. A decree nisi was granted. IGNORED ORDER A decree nisi was granted David Alexander Lee, an Auckland tramway employee, who petitioned for divorce from Linda Lee, who had failed to comply with an order for the restitution of conjugal rights. Petitioner was married on October 26, 1927. There were no children. Respondent left him and ignored an order to return on November 22, 1928. NEVER CAME BACK

Melba Muriel Hunt (Mr. Hall Skelton) was granted a divorce against William J. A. Hunt for desertion. They were married on February 25, 1925, at Auckland and lived at petitioner's mother’s. In October, 1925, petitioner went on a holiday and her husband wrote sayihg he was going to leave her. She returned and I.wo days afterward he left and never came back. * « « Walter Hume Kerr (Mr. Hall Skelton) said he was married to Hetty Kerr on October 1923. His wife left him and had since disobeyed an order to return. There was one child. A decree nisi was granted. * * • Alice Braithwaite (Mr. Moody) was granted a decree nisi against Ernest S. Braithwaite, who had disobeyed an order to return. They were married on Augu’st 6, 1921. Petitioner was granted interim custody of the two children. AGREED TO SEPARATE Mutual separation was the ground upon which Lena Moore (Mr. Mason) asked for divorce from John Clarence Moore. They were married on May 19, 1922, and lived at Auckland and Pukekohe. There was one child of the marriage. On December 11, 1923, they agreed to separate. A decree nisi was granted, with interim custody of the children to petitioner. „ Married on May 1, 1905, in Melbourne, Australia, Catherine Poole (Mr. Hall Skelton) lived happily with James Poole for three years. After coming to Auckland, the husband went to the war, and on his return deserted her in 191 S. She had always had to keep herself. A decree nisi was granted.

On the ground of three years’ mutual separation, Gladys Mabel R. Bruns (Mr. Schramm) was granted a decree nisi to be moved absolute in three months against Alfred Henry Bruns. • * * A decree nisi was granted William Ernest Ireland (Mr. Haigh), who sought divorce from Gertrude M. Ireland. who had disobeyed an order to return. They were married on October 19, 1912, in London, and came to New Zealand in 1920. There were no children. • ■ • * A decree nisi was granted to Alice Herbert against George H. Herbert on the ground of a separation order being in existence. A decree nisi was granted to Florence Annie McCarthy (Mr. Sullivan), on her petition based on the existence of a separation order, against James E. McCarthy. HABITUAL DRUNKENNESS About three years after Louisa May Neary (Mr. Matthews) married Louis C. Neary, he developed into an habitual drunkard. They were married in May, 1912, and petitioner asked for a divorce on the grounds of drunkenness and cruelty. On several occasions he had served terms of imprisonment with which drunkenness was connected. While in Australia he was sent to gaol under the name of “Bird.” “And very appropriate, too,” said counsel. A decree nisi was granted. mm* Evelyn Annie J. Mackay (Mr. Singer) was granted a divorce from John Mercer Mackay on the grounds of mutual separation. They were married on December 25, 1915, and agreed to part in January, 1926, owing to domesic discord. Petitioner was granted interim custody of the one child. TOLD TO WORK When Daphne Greer told her second husband, Isaac Greer, to go and get work, he was offended and left her. Petitioning for divorce on the ground of desertion, she said she married him in England on March 29, 1924, and came to New Zealand with him, where she set up business. She had two children by her previous marriage. Her second husband would not work and when he was asked to. he left her. Later, he was sentenced to two years' reformative detention for an offence against a male. She had not seen him since September, 1925. A decree nisi was granted.

TEt-L-TALE LOCK OF HA)R ttor y o£ how she was sent to Fiji * holiday trip by her husband, who admitted it was a pretext - hint to meet another woman, was JjT, by Alice Adele McGeady (Mr. Smu), in support of her petition •”dissolution of her marriage with i ...rence Vernon McGeady. Adultery | « the basis of the petition. p»titi° ner described how her liusd induced her to take the trip to JS On her return, finding a lock j hair a wal * et containing letters, i * taxed her husband with infidelity b e admitted misconduct, meter-reader gave corroborative ndence of having seen a strange ioman in petitioner’s home while she »aa on holiday. H decree nisi was granted. love that cooled ] «ge told me he didn't love me like i a used to,” said Gertrude Bernice jrirrant, in explaining why her husi sand, Cuthbert K. Tarrant, had left I home. Mrs. Tarrant sought an order I*Zt restitution of conjugal rights. Ldtioner said she was married in tvdney in 1924. and they had lived , ether in Auckland and Wellington. ■ n order for the husband’s return 14 days was made. I • * • Three years' separation was the jjsis of a petition by Bertha Annie jonelly (Mr. Bone), who asked for jjssolution of her marriage with Henry Herbert Donelly. Shortly ,(ter the marriage in Manchester, Jutland, in 1909, said petitioner, her ...bard began drinking heavily and •eating her cruelly. This conduct ontinued after they came to New "eiland in 1920, as a result of which J leed of separation was entered into , 1925. After hearing corroborative evince, his Honour granted a decree till. ... LURE OF TOWN The lure of town life compared with (jistence on a farm was ascribed by Rpbert Newton as the reason for his vile, Maria Newton, leaving home. His petition for dissolution of the marage was based on desertion. The jetitioner said he was married in England and came to New Zealand about 1919, settling on a farm. His life had previously threatened to isstre him. After corroborative evidence was -■.Ten, a decree nisi was granted, in ibree months. The custody of the iiildren was granted to petitioner. Petitions for restitution of conjugal rights were granted in the following rases: —William A. M. Harp against Florence May Harp; Fanny Swan Mr. Schramm) against Frederick W. Swan; Ellen Ann Hargreaves (Mr. ScLiver) against Dudley K. Hartrtaves; Walter William Bowker (Mr. Leonard) against Miriam L. Bowker; Samuel Trevor Dibble against Edna M. Dibble.. On grounds of mutual separation decrees nisi were granted in the following petitions:—lrene May Sims Mr. Sullivan) against Harold James Sims; Allan Roland Munro (Mr. Schramm) against Vera Catherine Munro; Florence Emma Coy (Mr. Same) against William Chas. Coy. Decrees nisi were granted in the following petitions on grounds of failure to comply with orders for restitu:ion of conjugal l ights: Arthur Row'll! (Mr. McLiver) against Emily owlatt; Florence R. S. Lawrence Mr. Dickson) against Colin B. S. Lawrence; Derrick O. C. Mincher (Mr. Leahy) against Margaret E. Mincher; Albert Wyvern Daysh (Mr. Grant) gainst Ivy E. M. Daysh; Garfield F. Haines (Mr. Leahy) against Emily E. P Raines; Frances John Smythe (Mr. McLiver) against Charlotte A. Smythe. OTHER CASES Other cases were as follow:—Ralph "’. F. San ft, granted a decree nisi ijaiust Millicent E. Sanft on the hound of non-compliance with an order for the restitution of conjugal rights made in May last; Sarah Hedley. decree nisi against Mark Hedley, n the ground of adultery; Frederick hilliam Gillard. decree uisi against Mary Selina Gillard, non-compliance *ilh restitution order; Thomas Mooney, decree nisi against Jessie Mooney (mutual separation); Thomas liihael Sampson, decree nisi against une A Sampson (desertion); Blanche critic Collette, decree nisi against can Collett (adultery); Stanley Morris wmar, granted an order for restitun of conjugal rights against Leila Bowmar; Dorothy M. N. Kaspar. wanted an order for restitution of psjugal rights against Arnold A. Fred Rider, granted decree 181 . Winst Grace Rider (de-'W-ion); Heury Emmett Kelly, anted order for restitution of con;jsai rights against Alice R. M. Kelly; .am Hesketh, granted order for ntitution of conjugal rights agaiust jf nes Hesketh; Isaac H-?witt, granted «cree nisi against Florence M. HewI, Mutual separation); Elsie May iialey, granted decree nisi against Wa rd George Dudley, on the grounds ‘separation: George Cruickshank, panted decree nisi against Annie E. -nuckshank, non-compliance with re_tution order; Amy Ethel Bates, 'anted decree nisi against William A. te 3 on the grounds of separation. Mabel Sorensen, granted decree * a ? a inst Anton O. Sorensen (adultMyrtle Mc Donald, decree nisi Monty McDonald on ground of adultery. Desertion was the basis of the pefi,Qnn by Rarefy Assid Reca (Mr. Watfor dissolution of her marriage jJ** Gabriel Beca. Petitioner j s<) r , e( * ?bp was married on August 12. n '°' had lived with her husband .Auckland. Her husband had left * r twice previously and finally de°n February 19, 1926. -- had been some domestic trouble, j ' She obtained a maintecn_f® or der against him. but he had _,_ v P a, d £3O and she had been comto work to support herself, bm h d * er Bsif * Corban. of Henderson, \k her . °f P e titioner, gave corroborate evidence, stating his sister had ® hving with her parents. * decree nisi was granted. Reindent was ordered to pay costs.